Insecure Majorities by Frances Lee
Congress and the Perpetual Campaign
This book argues that the persistent fragility of congressional majorities — the near-constant possibility that control of the House or Senate will flip — fundamentally reshapes how lawmakers and party leaders behave: they spend more time campaigning than governing, prioritize electoral protection of vulnerable members, employ procedural maneuvers and strategic agenda-setting to insulate their coalitions, and use symbolic or messaging votes to mobilize supporters. Drawing on systematic evidence from both chambers, it shows how these electoral pressures help explain contemporary polarization, legislative gridlock, and the evolution of party leadership and institutional rules in modern Congress.
- Published
- 2009
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Unknown
- Pages
- Unknown
- Original Language
- English
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- Alternate Titles
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